Advocacy

The nearly 300 million egg-laying hens in our country live in cages that afford each hen just 67 square inches of space—smaller than a sheet of paper. That’s outrageous!

Last year, a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives introduced a bill in the House promising egg-laying hens better living conditions. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), along with senators from both sides of the aisle, recently introduced a companion measure in the Senate. This important bill needs your support!

The Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 would increase the amount of space given to laying hens (they’re currently so cramped that most cannot even stretch their wings), and allow them to do some of the things chickens love doing: perching, dust-bathing and nesting. Plus, various inhumane practices would be banned. This is a major step forward! The bill would also require that egg cartons disclose the standards under which the eggs were produced so consumers know what they’re buying.

Take Action!
This bill is a common-sense measure supported by the United Egg Producers, the American Veterinary Medical Association and various consumer and animal welfare groups, including the ASPCA. And right now, our nation’s hens need your support, too. Please contact your senators today and ask them to co-sponsor S. 3239 to provide better lives for egg-laying hens!

Guest blog post from Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations

Last month, I told you about soring in the Tennessee walking horse industry and the illegal infliction of pain on the feet of horses using chemicals and devices to create an exaggerated gait. We have raised this cruelty crisis with high level officials and urged the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide stronger regulation of this abusive industry. In recent weeks, we've redoubled our efforts to push for change, and we are starting to see a response.

New rules released today by the USDA take an important step toward eliminating these unethical and cruel practices. The rules make it mandatory for the industry groups responsible for monitoring shows to issue fines and suspensions to those caught soring horses. We applaud this move because we know that mandatory fines send a signal to trainers who profit from torturing horses that their abuse will no longer be treated as business as usual.

What Else is Needed to Stop This Cruelty?
Many horse advocates and USDA's own Inspector General all agree that self-inspection won’t get the job done. Violations must be uncovered in order for fines and suspensions to occur. Industry oversight doesn't work and continuing a system of industry self-policing is likely to perpetuate the same problems. The facts speak for themselves: Even though USDA inspectors attended only 8 to 10% of shows in 2011, they found over half of all violations reported. We cannot rely on the industry to report its own misdeeds.

While the new rules are a true sign of progress and deliver a clear message that violations will not to be tolerated, industry self-regulation is not the long-term solution. It's time for Congress to finally take the power out of the hands of criminals. Join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade to use your voice for these underprotected animals.

We need your help! Due to the wording of the federal Animal Welfare Act—passed 40 years ago—only breeders who sell dogs to pet stores or to puppy brokers are required to be licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

That basically means no one is checking up on puppy mills who sell puppies directly to consumers over the Internet. As the ASPCA has seen firsthand, the photos of happy, healthy puppies posted on a breeder’s website often totally misrepresent what conditions are really like for these puppies and their parents.

Take Action!
The USDA released a proposed rule to close this loophole. Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center and let the USDA know that you support the proposed rule to close the loophole that has caused untold thousands of dogs to suffer inhumane treatment without any federal or public oversight. Visit aspca.org/USDA today!

Thank you for taking action for puppy mill dogs!

This Memorial Day, as we remember all the brave men and women who have given their lives to protect our freedoms, let’s not forget the sacrifices of the military dogs who have served alongside them.

Much of the world cheered when 80 members of an American commando team captured and killed Osama bin Laden a little more than a year ago. One of these American heroes was Cairo, the dog who played an integral part in Bin Laden’s capture. Because so much of that mission remains top secret, we haven’t been able to see a picture of Cairo, but we know that he was one of the team members responsible for closing off the perimeter of the home where Bin Laden was hiding.

Not all dogs have had the opportunity to help capture the world’s most wanted fugitive as Cairo did, but every military dog is saving lives through detecting explosives, conducting searches and patrols, and working on specialized missions. Beyond that, though, these dogs are also extremely loyal to their handlers and are willing to do anything to protect them. For example, CNN reported the heartbreaking story of Cpl. Dustin Lee, who was badly injured in an insurgent attack while he was on patrol in Iraq. His canine partner, Lex, also suffered shrapnel injuries, but pushed himself through his pain to lie over his human partner in an attempt to protect him. Tragically, Cpl. Lee did not survive his injuries, but his dog Lex did. Lex was adopted by Cpl. Lee’s family and was then recognized by Members of Congress for his exceptional service.

Classified as Equipment
Military dogs have died, been maimed and suffered to save our military service members, yet they are currently defined as mere “equipment” under federal law. Defining military dogs as equipment is shameful. It trivializes all that dogs do, but even more important, it makes it more difficult to return retired dogs to the United States for adoption. Dogs are sometimes stuck in far away locales while those wanting to adopt them must pay large fees to transport them. Old equipment may be left behind, but retired military dogs never should be.

Please Take Action for Military Dogs
The Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act, introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) and in the Senate by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), reclassifies military dogs as “canine members of the armed forces” instead of equipment. The bill also streamlines the adoption process for retired military dogs and directs the military to set up a program for retired dogs’ veterinary care, at no cost to the taxpayer. It also directs the Secretary of Defense to create a decoration or other recognition for military dogs that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in service to their country.

We need your help to build Senate support for the bill. For the sake of our canine heroes, please contact your U.S. senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 2134, the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act. Like their human counterparts, our military dogs deserve a happy retirement from service.